Feel fear. Let it go.

“The presence of fear is a sure sign you’re trusting in your own strength.”

Marianne Williamson

This quote hit me hard this week when I read it in a book I am currently devouring!

(I will post the book tomorrow!)

Fear is something I have got to know well in my lifetime. But in the past 5 years, I have also got to know Letting Go of Fear as well. Fear is funny. We ALL have it time to time. Probably most days on some level. I do believe it is necessary. Fear keeps us alive in a lot of circumstances. I hate the labels “good” and “bad” but maybe it is true that there is good fear and bad fear.

Good Fear would keep us from harming ourselves. Something triggers in us that says, maybe this isn’t safe. Cue: Maybe I shouldn’t go pet the cute bear cubs with their Mom next to them. Some may call that stupid BUT for me the actual fear of getting attacked and made dinner by a bear is what keeps me from it! Fear coexists with survival.

Bad Fear would prevent us from living the life we authentically desire. Close us up from the miracles just waiting to be manifested. In some cases, lead us to violence.

Fear is Normal. I was talking to my son yesterday who had been acting out all day and driving me literally insane…but that is another emotion…Cue: Motherhood…That is basically an emotion right? Takes us from wanting to package up our kids and sell them on Ebay one second to being vulnerable as fuck and wrapping them in our arms the next second….Anyways, I diverge. (Like always)

So we were talking and he told me he was nervous for school to start tomorrow. We talked about it and what he was nervous/fearful about. He had all the same concerns that any other child would have. But it made sense. His fear was making him on edge all day and when he talked about it, you could feel the relief. On the flip side, maybe my own fear of them starting school was relieved when we talked because we could relate to each other and we knew we weren’t alone. I will address more on Monday about back to school BUT my point being FEAR is always present. From a VERY young age. It is what we decide to do with it that ultimately defines us.

There is a quote that I love that says,

Feel the FEAR and DO IT anyways.

I love this because as one of my favorite authors, Brene Brown, discussed in a podcast, Fear and Courage can coexist. We don’t have to be one or the other.

Which circles back around to my top quote. When we feel fear, are we trusting in our own strength? And what does letting fear go look like then?

Letting Go of Fear doesn’t mean we don’t feel fear. It is inevitable we will. But letting it go is an inner recognition that we can’t do everything on our own. Turning your fear over to God, the Universe, Energy, Angels or whatever you want to call it simply says,

“Here, I can’t do this on my own. I am scared and that is ok. I have done what I can do on my own. I need to turn this Fear over so I can now be courageous. I know fear will remain and creep up time to time but when it does, it is signaling me back to the divine for strength. Take my fear and let me move forward in belief, faith and hope for miracles. I know that you are larger and stronger than fear. I know that no matter how many times I come to you in fear, you can relieve me of the burden of carrying it. I know that miracles will proceed the fear.”

Perhaps fear is there to remind us that we aren’t alone. Even though fear can feel lonely. It reminds us that we can’t rely solely on our own strength. Fear is an essential emotion that keeps us connected with our spirit.

I love this quote by Elizabeth Gilbert

“It seems to me that the less I fight my fear, the less it fights back. If I can relax, fear relaxes, too.”

We don’t need to fight fear. We know it is coming. Before we embark on an adventure or a new business/job. Before we fall in love with someone or start a new school year.